The Black Family Weblog

“At all events,” he said with a cheerful grin, “we’ll certainly meet again, here - or there.”  Then it was time to go, and we drained our mugs.  When we emerged on to the busy High with the traffic steaming past, we shook hands, and he said: “I shan’t say goodbye.  We’ll meet again.”  Then he plunged into the traffic.  I stood there watching him.  When he reached the pavement on the other side, he turned around as though he knew somehow that I would still be standing there in front of the Eastgate.  Then he raised his voice in a great roar that easily overcame the noise of the cars and buses.  Heads turned and at least one car swerved.  “Besides,” he bellowed with a great grin, “Christians NEVER say goodbye!”

“A Severe Mercy” by Sheldon Vanauken: Here is Vanauken’s last day in Oxford in which he shares a meal with C.S. Lewis.  This was how they departed.